No player in NHL deserves the designation “generational”, unless you simply insist on the one having most points and thats it - thus only Crosby and McDavid as his replacement qualify.
But not even them can claim the acclaim in rhe same manner Messi and Ronaldo do in football - and thats a fact. When you look at the most goals and assists by a footballer since year 2000 (as it stood at the end of August this year), Messi was at 1212, Ronaldo 1151 and the third one, Robert Lewandowski, was at 800 (while playing most of the career in somwhat inferior german league). So the first 2 guys cca 50 (or 45 percent respectively) then the third guy - now that is GENERATIONAL.
Now look at the point totals of NHL players and since 2015 find McDavid at 988, with the trio of Kucherov, Drai and MacK behind him at 869,855 and 847. Whole 13 percent more points than Kucherov. I guess you can claim its generational, cause he is the best, but as far as i am concerned, he certainly did not do enough to set himself apart from the rest the way Messi and Ronaldo did.
All in all, the whole debate is highly subjective and stupid, as usual.
